Bath Stone, limestone - whatever you want to call it.

[gigeorge]

So, our house has bath stone blocks. Over the years and plenty of acid rain this has started to erode in several places and wondered what the best course of action is? Can it be repaired, can you make up some sort of limestone paste to sort of cement on top? Or is it a case of having the blocks replaced..

Input from someone whos had this done or is someone that does this for a living's replys gratefully received !

 

[Nightglow]

All depends on the condition of the block, if really bad, say a corner, I would replace, but you can face up a block, by building up in layers.

You can get Rowland Premix comes in 25Kg bags, expensive around £25 a bag

Travis Perkins sells it, hunt around might find it cheaper.

http://www.rowlandpremix.co.uk/about.html

But, a cheaper way is to buy a bag of white cement, around £15 a bag, & use a light colour sand, & may be add some darker sand to get shade to match the Bath stone.

Also the mortar beds, will most likely be lime mortar, so using ordinary mortar will cause a few problems,as it doesn't allow the stone to breathe.


EDIT: Just came to me, 'Lithomex' another product for repairing stone, available in various shades.

http://www.masonsmortar.co.uk/knowledge/page/lithomex-stone-repair

Also you can buy Pre-Mixed Lime mortars, wear eye protection when mixing it.

 

[gigeorge]

Thanks for the info, yes i had heard something about using a lime mortar.